Safety-razor attachment



Dec. 26, 1922.

K. KOHN.

SAFETY RAZOR ATTACHMENT. FILED FEB-15,1922- Patented Dec. 26, 1922.

STATES KOBY iromi, or NEW YORK, n. Y.

SAFETY-RAZOR ATTACHMENT.

Application filed February 15, 1922. Serial No. 536,781.

To all whom it may canoe rm Be it known that I, KoBY KOHN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, New York County, New York State, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razor Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tosafety razors and consists in a simple, inexpensive easily applied attachment for certain types of razors which are well Known and in common use whereby the efliciency and satisfactory operation of such razors may be greatly increased. The particular form of the invention shown for purposes of illustration, is designed especially for use in that type of razor in which a non-rigid elastic blade having parallel cutting edges is used, but broadly considered it is not limited to use .with that form ,of blade or to use with any particular blade holder. It is quite common in safety razor construction to use a fiat, rigid blade provided with a guard disposed parallel to and at a slight distance from the cutting edge of the blade, and extending laterally beyond the edge, the blade being firmly supported to maintain this relation between its edge and the guard.

These blades usually have a single cutting edge and guard arranged at the proper angle to the handle for convenient and satisfactory use in shaving and the cutting edge I of the blade bein slightly spaced from the guard it is equa ly operative'for shaving throughout its length. The non-rigid or elastic blade in safety razors is usually made with two opposite parallel cutting edges and is clamped-between a base slightly convex in section with marginal, guard teeth extending across and a uniform distance beyond its cutting edges and a cap of less width than the blade curved in section to match the base having centering guide pins passing through the blades and the base, a handle extending downwardly from the center of the base and means for adjustably moving the cap towards the base to flex the blade to conform to the baseand clamp it in place. This 'flexin of the blade makes it possible to use bot edges of a single blade for shaving since each edge when forced down into contact with its guard will be at the proper angle to the handle for satisfactory use in shaving, but it has been found that this arrangement has defects and an objectionable feature. If the cutting edges are in actual contact with the teeth of the guard, they cannot effectively cut or shave at the points of contact, whereas, if the clamping action of the cap is released sufficiently for the blade edges to move upwardly a short distance from and out of contact. with the teeth of the guard, the blade will not be tightly held in place and may move slightly out of position or become warped. The specific form of attachment shown in the drawings to illustrate the invention if interposed between the blade and the base in the old known form of razor last above described, will completely remedy its defects and avoid its disadvantages, holding the razor blade cutting edges at proper angles rigidly throughout their length, properly spaced upwardly from the guards permitting free cutting or shaving throughout their length as in arigid blade razor. The novel features of the invention will be more fully understood from the'following description and claims taken with the drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a razor having the attachment constituting the present invention therein as a part of the combination; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the attachment alone. I

Considering first those features ofthe razor which are old and in general use, it in-. cludes as shown in Figure 1, a handle 14, which is rigidly connected at its upper end to the center of the base 12, on its lower side. The base is slightly convex in cross section and its parallel longitudinal side edge portions consist of guard teeth 13 for and projecting beyond the razor blade edges. The cap 10 has a lower surface curved in cross section to correspond with and fit the convex surface of the base, with parallel side edges a less distance apart than the side edges of the razor blade 11, and adapted to make contact with the upper surface of that blade parallel to and near its edges. Rigid pins 16 having oval ends extend downward from the lower surface of cap 10 on its central line passing through openings in blade 11 and into or through corresponding openings in base 12 serving to center and hold said parts in proper lateral position.

A rigid shaft 15 extends down from the center of the lower surface of cap 10 through blade 11 and into the cylindrical upperportion of handle 14 having screw threads on' than that. between the side edges of cap 10,-

its lower end as shown in dotted lines. in Figure 1. A rotary cylindrical shaft 26 extends upwardly in handle 14 from its lower end and at its upper end has a screw threaded socket adapted to interengage with the screw threaded end of shaft 15.- Its enlarged knurled lower end beyond the cylindrical portion of the handle is for the purpose of turning it and through its screw threaded connection moving cap 10 towards or away from base 12. The non-rigid or elastic blade 11, has two parallel cutting edges as shown, is slightly widerthan cap 10 whereby its edges project laterally beyond the edges of said cap and is of such width compared to that of the base that its edges are above the teeth of the guards between their ends. The blade is normally flat and tends to resume that form when distorted but when the cap 10 is moved down forcing it into close contact with .the convex base its flexibility causes it to change shape correspondingly with its cutting edges at downward angles in contact with the guard teeth. The structure of the razor so far described is old and well known and is disclosed only as part of the combination in which the novel attachment constituting this invention is used.

The structural novelty of this'invention resides principally in the blade supporting attachment or member shown separately in Figure 2, but the main purpose and utility of the attachment and its Structural features are to cooperate with the elements of known razors producing a novel and useful combination such as shown in Figure 1. As

.shown in Figure 1 the blade supporting member in use is interposed between the base 12 and blade 11, and its form, structural arrangement and size are dependent on and determined by those of the adjacent parts of the particular razor on which it is used and may vary somewhat with different razors. The form shown adapted for use on the razor shown in Figure .1, comprises a relatively thin rectangular central portion 17, having substantially the same length as the base 12 and approximately the same transverse curvature. Projecting upwardly at the parallel side margins of the thin portion 17, there are a pair of ribs' 18, the inner faces of which are inclined outwardly forming narrow'longitudinal supporting surfaces 24.- at their outer edges. The outer edges of these ribs are spaced apart a distance less whereby the edges of the cap will project laterally beyond them. The blade 11 rests on the edges 24 and since it is wider than cap 10 its edges will project still further beyond said ribs laterally The attachment has at the side margins of the thin portion 17, under ribs 18, what may be'called parallel longitudinal downwardly projecting ribs 19 since the attachment suddenly becomes thicker at those lines forming inwardly facing shoulders. The material of the attachment projects laterally beyond ribs 18 and 19 the lower surface of the projecting portion being a continuation of the lower surface of ribs 19 and on a transverse curve corresponding to the curvature of the surface of the base 12, whereby it and the lower surface of ribs 19 will fit that base and the upper surface extending from the lower edge of rib 18 on a similar curve to a point near their outer ends, but terminating in downward curves of very short radius.

These laterally projecting portions beyond the ribs 18 and 19 are guards composed of a series of teeth 20 and their outer ends or edges preferably extend beyond the outer edges of the guards 13 to prevent undue thickness of the guard part in contact with the face of the user. The attachment or blade supporting member has holes 23 in its the attachment rests on the base only along its sides and the intermediate portion is thin and flexible makes it adapt itself to and fit bases of different curvature under the clamping action of the cap. The ribs, how,- ever, are stiff and strong so that when the device is in position in a razor, it will tend to prevent distortion of the cap or. base by accident and carelessness as often-happened heretofore and will tend to neutralize any I distortion which has already. taken place.

It will be noted that the ribs 18 extending upwardly from the surface of the guards will hold the blade edges above, parallel to,-

but out of contact with the teeth of the guard so as to permit free shaving throughout the entire length of the cutting edge and the free discharge of lather between the teeth back of the cutting edge. Since the side edges of the cap which are lowest make contact with the upper surface of the blade on lines parallel to, but on the outer side of, the supporting ribs 18, they will flex or bend the blade 11, making'its cutting edges extend downwardly from the outer upper edges of ribs 18 towards the guard at such angle as is most desirable and the .rigid clamp-ing action of thenarrow top edges of ribs 18 and the under surface of the cap on the blade in parallel lines near its edges will firmly hold the blade edges in straight line position throughout their length. This clamping action will furthermore straighten a warped blade and render its use satisfactory- The height of the ribs 18 and their distance from the outer edge of the cap should be in each case such as will cause the edge of the blade to assume the desired angle and be spaced upwardly from the guard the desired distance.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to the details shown by way of illustration and that modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire-to secure by Letters Patent, is:

y 1. As an article of manufacture for use in safety razors which have a base, a nonrigid blade and a cap for clamping and flexing the blade consisting of a detachable blade supporting member adapted to fit and rest on the base having two parallel up wardly projecting rigid ribs adapted to make contact with the under surface of and support the blade on lines parallel to its edges within the side marginal parallel lines edges within the side marginal parallel lines of the cap, the portion of said member between said ribs being thin and flexible 3. As an article of manufacture for use in safety razors which have a base, a nonrigid blade and a cap for clamping and flexing the blade consisting of a detachable blade supporting member comprising a thin central portion with upwardly and -'lO-WI1- wardly projecting parallel rigid ribs at its edges the lower ribs being adapted to rest longitudinally on the base and the upper ribs adapted to make contact with and support the blade on lines parallel to its edges within the side marginal edge line of the cap.

4. As an article of manufacture for use in safety razors which have a convex base, a non-rigid blade and a cap for clamping and flexing the blade consisting of a nonflexia non-rigid blade and a cap for clamping and flexing the blade consisting of a nonflexible detachable blade supporting member adapted to fit and rest on the base having two parallel upwardly projecting rigid ribs adapted to make contact with the under surface of and support the blade on lines parallel to its edges within the side marginal parallel lines. of the cap and guard wardly projecting parallel ribs at its edges the'lower ribs being adapted to rest longitudinally on the base and. the upper ribs adapted' to make contact with and sup-port the blade onlines parallel toits edges within theside marginal edge line of the cap, guard fingers extending outwardly and on a curve downwardly from said ribs the lower surface of said fingers being a continuation of the lower. surface of the downwardly projecting ribs fitting and resting on the base and the upper surface being substantially parallel but extending from the lower outer-edges of the upper ribs.

7. As an article of manufacture for use in safety razors which have a base, a nonrigid blade and amp for, clamping and flexing the blade consisting of a non-rigid detachable blade supporting member adapted to fit and rest on the base having marginal guard teeth projecting beyond the sides of the base and rigid means extending upwardly at the inner ends of said teeth furnishing support for the blades on straight parallel lines parallel to thecutting edges of the blade within the side marginal edges of the cap.

8. As an article of manufacture a detachable device adapted to be used in safety razors between the guard carrying base and blade comprising longitudinal side portions and laterally projecting guard teeth having lower surfaces curved transversely on such radius as to fit the base on opposite. sides of its central portion the lower surface of said device at its central portion being slightly elevated above'its sides so as to be maintained out of contact with said base and means on the upper surface of said device for supporting the blade with its edges above and out of contact with said guard teeth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

KOBY KOHN. 

